Switch Mobility Tests Electric Double-Decker Buses on City Roads

Key Highlights

• Switch Mobility tests electric double-decker buses.

• MTC plans to reintroduce double-deckers.

• Around 20 e-buses are planned under the pilot.

• Tenders yet to be floated.

• Operated under the GCC model.

Switch Mobility, the electric mobility arm of Ashok Leyland, has started testing electric double-decker buses on city roads. This move comes as the Metropolitan Transport Corporation (MTC) plans to reintroduce double-decker buses in the city, this time in a fully electric format.

Electric Double-Deckers Planned Under Pilot Project

According to a senior MTC official, the transport body is preparing a pilot project to bring back double-decker buses, keeping sustainability in focus. Around 20 electric double-decker buses are planned to be purchased under this pilot phase. However, the official clarified that tenders for procurement are yet to be floated.

Role of Ashok Leyland Group Companies

While Switch Mobility is testing the buses, OHM Global Mobility, another subsidiary of Ashok Leyland, is currently operating electric buses for MTC. These e-buses are being run under a gross cost contract (GCC) model, where the operator manages operations while MTC pays a fixed cost.

Push Towards Electric Public Transport

With electric buses already running successfully, MTC’s plan to introduce electric double-decker buses highlights its focus on cleaner and more efficient public transport. The trials by Switch Mobility are expected to help assess performance, feasibility, and road suitability before final procurement decisions are made.

Also Read: Eicher Trucks & Buses Marks National Energy Conservation Day with Strong Push for Energy-Efficient Mobility

CMV360 Says

The testing of electric double-decker buses by Switch Mobility marks a key step in modernising city transport. With MTC planning a pilot purchase of 20 buses, the move supports cleaner mobility and better passenger capacity. Once tenders are issued, these buses could soon return to city roads in an electric avatar.